hat she may have the same attraction for other men that the sisters and
the cousins of the other men have for them. The idea that their friends
may fall in love with the girls they regard in such a perfectly
matter-of-fact way strikes them, when it reaches them at all, as a huge
joke.

All the girls were sorry to see the two men who had helped them so much
go away after dinner, but of course their departure was necessary. Just
now, after the exciting events of the previous night, there seemed a
reasonable chance of a little peace, but the price of freedom from the
annoyance caused by Holmes was constant vigilance, and there was work
for both the men to do. Moreover, the sight of the cheerful fire from
the other camp, and the thought of the great camp fire they were
presently to enjoy in common consoled them.

"The Halsted girls are going to build the fire," said Eleanor. "It's
their first ceremonial camp fire, so I told Miss Turner they were
welcome to do it. They're all Wood-Gatherers, you see. So we'll have to
light the fire for them, anyhow. See, they're at work already, bringing
in the wood. Margery, suppose you go over and make sure that they're
building the fire properly, with plenty of room for a good draught
underneath."

"Who's going to take them in, and give them their rings, Miss Eleanor?"
asked Dolly. "You, or Miss Turner?"

"Why, Miss Turner wants me to do it, Dolly, because I'm older in the
Camp Fire than she is. She's given me the rings. I think it's quite
exciting, really, taking so many new girls in all at once."

"Come on," cried Margery Burton, then. "They're all ready and they want
us to form the procession now, and go over there."

"You are to light the fire, Margery. Are you all ready?"

"Yes, indeed, Miss Eleanor. Shall I go ahead, and start the flame?"

"Yes, do!"

Then while Margery disappeared, Eleanor, at the head of the girls,
started moving in the stately Indian measure toward the dark pile of
wood that represented the fire that was so soon to blaze up. As they
walked they sang in low tones, so that the melody rose and mingled with
the waves and the sighing of the wind.

Just as the first spark answered Margery's efforts with her fire-making
sticks, they reached the fire, and sat down in a great circle, with a
good deal of space between each pair of girls. Eleanor took her place in
the centre, facing Margery, who now stood up, lifting a torch that she
had lighted above her head.